Computer glitch leads to delay in UK flights

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

London

Sept. 26: Hundreds of flights in Britain were delayed on Thursday due to a computer glitch at the main air traffic control centre in the UK.

The glitch was noticed just before 4 pm on Thursday at Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre in Hampshire. Immediately, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the air traffic control company, imposed restrictions on the number of aircraft entering UK airspace through London Area Control sector, the airspace above 24,000ft above England and Wales. Restrictions were also imposed on the number of flights taking off from all the major UK airports. The restrictions on the number of lights helped the air traffic control firm maintain safety as controllers operated manual systems at reduced capacity.

The restrictions on the number of planes being allowed to land and take off led to severe disruptions in the flight schedules. Passengers across Britain faced delays as inbound flights had to wait to land and departures were obviously affected too.